
10 Best Criminology Books 2023 | There's One Clear Winner | BestReviews.Guide


Best Criminology Books in 2023 | Learn About Justice, Criminals and Crimes

25 Most Influential Criminal Justice and Criminology Books 2010–2020 | Academic Influence

Big Ideas Simply Explained

Grandes Ideas Explicadas de Forma Simple

The Crime Book

El Libro del Crimen

The 10 Best Criminology Books of 2023 (Reviews) - FindThisBest

Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

Incarceración masiva en la Era de la ceguera al color

Based on the perspective of a seasoned attorney with the Northern California American Civil Liberties Union, there exists a hidden caste system that systematically oppresses people of color, specifically Black men, within the United States. This new social order is often overlooked due to its operation under the guise of the justice system. Through government-backed law enforcement and racial profiling, Black men are disproportionately arrested, labeled as "criminals" or "felons", therefore justifying their mistreatment without overtly expressing racial bias.

These labeled individuals, despite being released into society after serving their prison terms, struggle with the life-long stigma of being a felon. The lack of social support for these individuals returning to their communities results in their conversion into an enormous underclass. They encounter difficulties in securing employment or housing, further barred from applying for public benefits or further education, leading to their struggle to thrive in mainstream society. This condition is referred to as a modernized version of the historical racial bias, 'Jim Crow', subtly revised to fit a society that outwardly rejects open acts of racism.

For the United States to achieve a genuinely fair society, it must first recognize the existence of this hidden racial caste and take measures to eradicate it. This would necessitate a collective recognition of each other's humanity and an unreserved commitment to care for one another irrespective of racial or socio-economic differences. This entails increased federal funding towards primary education, housing, and healthcare, affirming that these are basic rights everyone should possess. Equipped with these resources, all citizens can enjoy an equal right to a decent standard of living, reflecting Thomas Jefferson’s argument in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal.”

The New Jim Crow

El Nuevo Jim Crow

On a crisp morning in November 1959, Herbert Clutter oversees his expansive ranch while across Kansas, Perry Smith rendezvouses with Dick Hickock. The Clutters carry on with their routines, unaware of the impending danger as Smith and Hickock prepare their car for a long journey. By the end of the day, they arrive at the Clutter residence, armed with deadly intentions.

The following morning, the grim discovery of the Clutter family's lifeless bodies stuns two of Nancy Clutter's friends. The local authorities are initially perplexed, with Bobby Rupp, a friend of the family, briefly considered a suspect. The lead investigator, Alvin Dewey, theorizes that the culprit must be someone familiar with the family, setting the community into a whirlwind of speculation and fear. In the meantime, Smith and Hickock, the true culprits, have returned to Hickock's home in Olathe. After committing check fraud, they flee to Mexico, where they engage in frivolous spending and dream of a life of luxury. Perry, reminiscing about his troubled upbringing, knows the money won't last.

As the investigation stagnates, a prisoner named Floyd Wells, incarcerated in the Kansas state prison at Lansing, recognizes Hickock's involvement in the crime. He contemplates revealing what he knows to the authorities. Concurrently, Smith and Hickock, now penniless in the American desert, attempt car theft unsuccessfully. Wells eventually confesses, prompting Dewey to initiate an extensive manhunt. The duo manage to avoid capture for a while, even returning to Kansas City and Miami, before their luck runs out in Las Vegas when their stolen vehicle's license plate is identified. Following intense interrogation, both men confess and are sentenced to death. They spend the following five years on Death Row, enduring the company of other hardened criminals, while their appeals are processed. As their execution approaches, Dick's demeanor is clumsy, while Perry expresses regret.

7 Best Criminology Books of All Time

The Crime Book

Big Ideas Simply Explained

The New Jim Crow

Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

In Cold Blood

Killer Triggers

Criminology

A Complete Introduction

Criminology and Criminal Profiling for Beginners

Introduction to Criminology

Theories, Methods, and Criminal Behavior

Sources

What To Read Next

7 Best Criminology Books of All Time

The Crime Book

Big Ideas Simply Explained

The New Jim Crow

Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

In Cold Blood

Killer Triggers

Criminology

A Complete Introduction

Criminology and Criminal Profiling for Beginners

Introduction to Criminology

Theories, Methods, and Criminal Behavior

Sources

What To Read Next

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